Cannabis News

The HEMP Embassy Headlines are a selection of recent articles from news services and media sources primarily concerning Cannabis issues, the consequences of prohibition and the challenges for law reform. Here are the selected headlines for this week.

Embassy HEADLINES Issue 319

August 31, 2018

AUSTRALIA & NZ

Following the legalisation of hemp seed as food last year, Australian farmers are now adding hemp to their grain cropping programs. But key players in the emerging industry say a golden opportunity is being missed in the nutraceutical market.

When Denver, Colorado resident Taylor Rosean and his friends pictured legal marijuana, one of the things they envisioned was a versatile game and entertainment space where cannabis could be consumed by the players and patrons. And then they went about making that vision a reality. Rosean recently got word from authorities in Denver that his cannabis arcade – Vape and Play – got its license approved for social use. Progress has been slow when it comes to Denver’s social use program, which is why Rosean was only the second business owner to have a license for legal marijuana use on his premises approved.

In the last couple of years, the state of New York has done a complete turnaround with their stance on marijuana. From being one of the states with the most restrictive access to medical marijuana, to one of a handful where even lawmakers are talking legalization over prohibition. Governor Cuomo has certainly changed his tune, and now the New York Democratic Party and the Department of Health both back legalizing cannabis as well.

The saliva screening equipment will be used primarily to test for THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. The technology will be made available to police departments across the country but ultimately it will be up to each department to decide individually whether to use it.

If approved by council, the four areas would be exempt from the city’s Cannabis Consumption Bylaw regulations, which prohibit smoking, vaping and eating marijuana products in public. The city will launch a public engagement process on Monday and provide the locations of the proposed sites.

In nominal terms, on an annualized basis, Canadians spent $5.7 billion on cannabis products in the second quarter. Of this, 84.8% or $4.8 billion was purchased illegally for non-medical use. This proportion has fallen from 98.0% in the second quarter of 2014, reflecting increases in cannabis consumption for medical use. Expenditures on cannabis for medical purposes reached $784 million, accounting for 13.8% of total expenditures. This includes $52 million of personal production of cannabis for medical use. This second quarter share represents a slight increase over the 12.7% share in the first quarter, reflecting the increased availability of cannabis for medical use. Cannabis consumption for medical use has more than tripled since the second quarter of 2016.

Ontario has announced big changes to its recreational cannabis retail plan. Government-owned Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (OCRC) will still sell online, but will no longer open physical stores. Instead, businesses will handle all storefront sales. Switching from public to private sector retailing will mean more stores. This means more convenience for Ontario cannabis consumers. That in turn will help legal cannabis compete against black market weed. But it may also increase use of the drug.

A large-scale genetic study found that some of the same genes associated with the use of cannabis are also associated with certain personality types and psychiatric conditions. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, conducted by a team of scientists who are part of the International Cannabis Consortium, is the largest to date genetic study to look at the use of cannabis.

With more and more states legalizing marijuana, whether for medical use, recreational use, or both, increasing numbers of Americans are using cannabis. A new survey finds that one in seven had used marijuana in 2017, with smoking being the most common manner of consumption, according to a report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Fifty-four samples from 50 women who used marijuana either daily, weekly or sporadically—with inhalation being the primary method of intake —- were examined. Researchers detected THC, the primary psychoactive component of marijuana, in 63 percent of the breast milk samples for up to six days after the mother’s last reported use.

CULTURE & SOCIETY

An overlooked aspect of recreational cannabis legalization in Canada is the privacy implications of the distribution systems, especially in the online environment. The privacy and security risks are substantial, and protecting the online rights of consumers needs more attention. Highly sensitive personal information will be exposed to the risks of redistribution and data breaches, and these risks are magnified if the data is stored or processed in the United States.

BUSINESS & POLICY

Lead by Pennsylvania’s Wolf Administration, a group of top financial regulators in 13 states are demanding Congress act to protect banks who choose to work with cannabis businesses from any federal interference – giving them the peace of mind they need to work with the newly legal industry.

America’s legal marijuana industry could be worth as much as $47 billion in a decade’s time, according to investment bank RBC Capital Markets. In a lengthy memo to clients last week, RBC analysts outlined the rapid growth of the U.S. marijuana sector and showed how the cannabis market is quickly catching up to beer and wine sales.

OTHER DRUGS

An annual, global event on August 31st marks International Overdose Awareness Day. The purpose is to raise awareness about overdose – what it is, the signs of an overdose, and how to respond – as well as educate people in order to reduce the stigma surrounding drug-related deaths. The day also acknowledges the grief of the families and friends who have lost a loved one to an overdose death.

FUNDRAISERS/CAMPAIGNS

21 June Breaking news! Tony has been released on bail. Tony of Mullaway’s Medical Cannabis has once again been arrested for growing his cannabis medicine! Tony makes cannabis tincture for children with epilepsy and countless others with cancer, chronic pain, ms and the list goes on. Tony Bower has dedicated his life to helping others and now needs your help. All Donations would be greatly appreciated.

Let’s get real about cannabis.The “war on drugs” has been lost. These days, millions of Australians choose to use cannabis and countries all around the world are changing their laws after realising prohibition does more harm than good. It’s high time we joined them and legalised it. That’s why I’m proud to announce today that the Greens are launching our national plan to legalise cannabis for adult use.

September 28th – 30th, 2018, The Chan Centre & Nest, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. “The CHCE is a conference unlike any other- one where thought leaders and practitioners, patients and their families, business entrepreneurs and government officials, cultivators and geneticists come together to explore the endless benefits of Cannabis, other plant/fungi medicines, as well as psychedelics.”

MEDICAN WEEKENDS at the BUSH THEATRE, Nimbin [Hemp Embassy]

The next Medican Workshops will be on the weekend of October 20/21 and then January 19/20, 2019. Entry by donation, beside the river at Nimbin’s Bush Theatre. Starting at 11 am and aiming to finish by 420! Learn how to make and use Cannabis as medicine!

MISCELLANEOUS

Speaker presentations from the Nimbin Medican Workshop, last weekend 23-24 June 2018, are now online. Big thanks to Disco Sista for documenting the many medican workshops that the Embassy has hosted in Nimbin over the past 3 years. If you’ve missed these amazing gatherings, then you can still watch the speakers online: Click on this link to head to Disco Sista’s Nimbin Medican YouTube Channel.

IF YOU WANT IT: When Phil Bromley moved from Sydney to one of Australia’s most famous and surprisingly largest tourism destinations, Nimbin he felt like he’d found home. Six years on, after observing and experiencing the relentless police harassment and mainstream media victimization of his new hometown, Phil felt it was time to let the town tell their story in their own words. ‘Exposing The War On Drugs’ is an eight part radio documentary series that looks at how the war on drugs has affected Australia and the rest of the world. Broadcast around Australia on the Community Radio Network, from the 18th April and podcast at https://player.whooshkaa.com/shows/exposing-the-war-on-drugs . With the spotlight on Nimbin, Australia’s most famous “alternative” town, the team from NIM FM, (Nimbin’s local community radio station), explore drug prohibition, medicinal cannabis, addiction and Nimbin itself; and offer some solutions to the costly drug war that has raged since the early 1930s.

Entheogenesis Australis (EGA) would like to thank the psychedelic community for it’s ongoing support and attendance at our recent Psychedelic Symposium. Since the event we’ve had a lot of inquiries about obtaining copies of the new EGA Journal 4 and other special merchandise. To browse, please feel free to head to the EGA Shop online or click on the items below. This is also your chance to pick up classic and new T-shirt designs. Please keep in mind much of the stock is very limited so don’t delay!